As a testament to the popularity of the Cayman Islands as a diving destination, over 30,000 visitors have taken advantage of the Kittiwake Marine Park to dive and snorkel the sunken ship that has become a great artificial reef. The park opened in January 2011, after much effort to prepare the Kittiwake for diving after its donation by the Maritime Administration of the United States (MARAD) to the Cayman government. The ship sits in about 65 feet of water and measures 251 feet in length, with the top about 15 feet below the surface.
Seeing a shipwreck is always a surreal experience, conjuring up images of the sailors who once stood on the decks or behind the wheel. These thoughts were quickly replaced the moment I spot a school of fish circling the mast. They and other sea life have eagerly taken up residence and offer a rebirth to a vessel that is no longer in service. For a good twenty minutes I had the rare opportunity to snorkel the entire site by myself, watching the divers from above. Other boats joined ours shortly after, so I took advantage of the other swimmers to add perspective to my shots. Yes, the water really is that crystal clear and gorgeous sapphire blue.
What a fun trip and a superb reincarnation for the Kittiwake!
f/5.6
1/160
ISO-200
8mm fisheye
Seeing a shipwreck is always a surreal experience, conjuring up images of the sailors who once stood on the decks or behind the wheel. These thoughts were quickly replaced the moment I spot a school of fish circling the mast. They and other sea life have eagerly taken up residence and offer a rebirth to a vessel that is no longer in service. For a good twenty minutes I had the rare opportunity to snorkel the entire site by myself, watching the divers from above. Other boats joined ours shortly after, so I took advantage of the other swimmers to add perspective to my shots. Yes, the water really is that crystal clear and gorgeous sapphire blue.
What a fun trip and a superb reincarnation for the Kittiwake!
f/5.6
1/160
ISO-200
8mm fisheye
RSS Feed
